Substance abuse disorders and mental health disorders commonly occur together. So it’s natural to ask the question: can depression and anxiety occur together? The short answer is yes. In fact, shared risk factors between depression and anxiety make their co-occurrence all too common. Call South Tampa Psychiatry at 866.273.5017 to learn more about our co-occurring disorder treatment program.
Depression and Anxiety
Depression disorder and anxiety disorder on their own are the two most common mental health disorders. Co-occurring disorders like depression and anxiety compound each other, which means the presence of one can intensify or worsen a person’s experience with the other. Treating co-occurring disorders requires a comprehensive, integrated approach that often includes residential care.
It is worth setting out the differences between these disorders. They do share some similarities and are both considered mood disorders in the medical community. In addition, both conditions can significantly affect a person’s mental and physical wellbeing. However, they differ in symptomatology and impact.
Depression disorder, which your doctor may refer to as major or chronic depression, involves bouts of prolonged hopelessness, sadness, and emotional negativity. Typically, depression doesn’t only affect a person’s health. It may disrupt a person’s work by making them less productive or even unable to go to work. People’s typical dietary and sleep schedules often get thrown off by depression disorder as well.
Meanwhile, an anxiety disorder involves a consistent pattern of worry that is disconnected or out of proportion to someone’s reality. The symptoms of an anxiety disorder include:
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Nervousness
- Rapid heart rate
- Shortness of breath
Anxiety disorder can dramatically impair a person’s ability to function normally. In severe forms, it may cause withdrawal from socializing and an inability to concentrate or complete daily tasks. It may also involve panic attacks or avoidance of the trigger of their anxiety.
Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment
The commonality of co-occurring disorders is thankfully matched nowadays by the prevalence of medical providers who specialize in their treatment. Treating co-occurring disorders requires a comprehensive approach that takes the time to get at the root of the mental health disorders in question. We recommend that this type of care occur in a residential, inpatient setting. Inpatient care offers:
- 24/7 care
- Elimination of life pressures and outside distractions
- Connection to sources of peer accountability and support
- Holistic therapies
- Practice with coping strategies
- Aftercare planning
The top therapies used in treating co-occurring disorders are behavioral therapies. This category of therapy tries to address the root behavioral causes of depression and anxiety disorders. Other key interventions in the treatment of co-occurring depression and anxiety are talk therapy, group therapy, and family counseling. For treatment-resistant depression and anxiety, we may recommend TMS therapy.
Begin Treatment at South Tampa Psychiatry
South Tampa Psychiatry understands how common it is for multiple mental health disorders to appear at the same time. The presence of even one mental health disorder can feel overwhelming. People experiencing two at the same time may feel as if healing is impossible; however, that isn’t true. South Tampa Psychiatry’s co-occurring disorder treatment program is built on the premise that healing is possible for everyone. We take an individualized approach that takes a person’s entire profile into account during treatment.
One element that sets us apart from many other programs is our transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy. This therapy works by sending magnetic pulses at targeted brain areas to remediate depression and anxiety. It is a safe, evidence-based technique that often improves people’s depression and anxiety symptoms. TMS is particularly effective in cases where medication has proven ineffective in treating either mood disorder.
Learn more about how we can support you or a loved one with improving mental health by reaching out to 866.273.5017.
